More details revealed for Grosvenor House plans

Pete Rushforth, 32, and Ben Whatsley, 42, have set up a community interest company called Rise, Resound, Rebuild (R3), and want to turn the former youth centre into a "cultural hub that reinvests profits back into the city".

Both are from Salisbury, went to school here and have worked in the area for over twenty years.

Pete is an engineer, and Ben is one of the founding members of Bass Connection, and runs his own music business with a Prince’s Trust grant. The pair met 10 years ago and have been friends ever since.

'Complete renovation'

Architect's impression of the front elevation. Picture from Holland Hackett.

R3 want to lead a "complete renovation of the property", including connecting the buildings with a "two-storey south facing hydroponic greenhouse that both enables disabled access by lift to both houses and space to grow food for the kitchen restaurant".

• The basement would be connected and enlarged, and fitted out with purpose built music studios including space for video podcasting and a local radio host.
• The ground floor would see several multi-use studios suitable for a wide range of classes such as dance, martial arts, drama and yoga or hold functions such as wedding receptions.
• On the first floor you would find facilities for hot-desking, teleconferencing booths, classrooms for teaching, chambers for counselling, and prototyping including 3D scanning and printing equipment.
• This could be where a skills exchange is based, supporting non-profits by bridging the skills gap with access to machine learning experts, after school or homework clubs and workshops for things like how to keep your children safe online.

The pair say a key point of the project is to encourage people to share their skills, knowledge and experience in whatever subject they enjoy. The restaurant in particular would be configured to provide cooking classes, where local chefs can earn an extra wage by teaching cooking and showcasing recipes.

Salisbury Transition City have also thrown support behind the plans to include a produce grocery store with a "strong organic focus", including a "Library of things" that provides community access to useful equipment.

'Cultural drain of talent'

Proposed garden plan. Picture from Holland Hackett.

Quantity surveyors Step Associates estimate R3's plans will take three years and cost around £7-10 million.

To deliver this, they plan to "engage with charities that support the rehabilitation of ex-offenders through the renovation of properties and create a number of apprenticeships working on the project". Pete and Ben also want to reverse what they see as a "dramatic decline" of live music in Salisbury, which has created a "cultural drain of talent away from our city".

They said: "You’re comparing what happens to a young adult that makes some bad decisions and ends up on the wrong side of the law, and maybe even costing society £40-50k a year in prison, compared to actually finding their vocation in life and making something amazing and contributing to society.

The team also point to a "a moral core" at the heart of the project, that "reflects the well-known street pastors who have graced the streets of Salisbury at night and helped people get home safe".

Pete said: “A foundation on Jesus - the real person; who ate food, drank wine and went to parties. The bloke knew how to celebrate and rest really well, and did it creatively and in a redemptive way.

"Creativity works really well with recovery and restoration, and not just for people who’ve been through trauma or addiction but also through depression or loss. We realised the arts, dance, music, gardening, cooking and technology are all creative expressions that form purpose in life. Purpose in community is the need people have to live full lives, and that’s what we want for our city".

Support for the project

Conservative candidate John Glen..Election count for Salisbury Constituency and Devizes Constituency, held at Five Rivers Leisure Centre in Salisbury..General Election 2019 DC9356P126 Picture by Tom Gregory...

There is support for the project from across the city, with Nick Holtam, Bishop of Salisbury, saying there is a "vision at the heart of this project that is really worth pursuing”, and MP for Salisbury John Glen saying he was "very pleased" to support the "exciting, ambitious proposal".

Wiltshire Creative has also backed the project, saying it is "delighted that there are plans to transform Grosvenor House into a community cultural hub, particularly as culture is always an effective catalyst for change and regeneration, which is much needed in that area of Salisbury".

Pete said: “It’s a tough decision for the council because it’s the difference between £4-5 million now compared to… well I dare anyone to really calculate how much impact this project could have in 40 years if it’s successful”.

A decision is expected on Monday, February 8.

For more details on the project go to riseandbuild.co.uk.